The newest recording by Bubba and Ethel had my ears ringing. I thought for a second that I was stuck in hell (like the SNL sketch with Paul Simon stuck in an elavator hearing “elavator music” versions of his hits.)
I heard dogs howling in the neighborhood. I had blood out of my ears dripping down my cheeks and the lack of pitch made me cry.
It took away my desire to ever hear SG again. My neighbors came over and asked for the CD so they could destroy it. You wouldn’t want to give this CD to your worst enemy.

The songs were dreadful, but the singing and band even worse. If people think this of when they think Southern Gospel, the industry as we know it will cease to exist.

The new edited version:

The newest recording by Bubba and Ethel was music to my ears. It took me to other worlds. Even the animals in the neighborhood showed their excitement for this project. I had tears trickling down my cheeks. I didn’t want to hear anything else. My neighbors came over and practically demanded the CD. They thought it was smashing.
I wouldn’t ever want to part with it to anyone.

The songs were the highpoint of this project and stood out from the rest. This project will give a new definition of what Southern Gospel is and is likely to radically change the industry as we know it.

[i]I was going to put my user name here, but don’t want banned from the SN boards. I did leave my email addy so Doug knows how it is, and I used my initials so that those who know me might know who it is. :-)[/i]

I AM unhappy the review was changed. If I didn’t mind at all, I’d have never said anything about it. However, some people seem to be upset that I’m not vehement…popping mad…outraged. Well, I’m not. And it puts me in a weird situation for people to say I ought to be mad when I fully expected an edit of this sort to happen sooner or later and fully planned to react precisely the way I did, by revealing the change on my blog.

Should I get angry and stop writing reviews for Singing News over this, in your opinion?

Or should I suggest they implement some sort of grading system so the writer’s opinion will be more clearly conveyed in the future in spite of edits, which is precisely what I have done?

I’m more interested in having a hand in improving their reviews than in washing my hands of them. I have a tiny financial interest in continuing to write reviews, of course, since they do pay me a bit for my services, but more fundamentally, I want to see the trends that have started at Singing News to continue. That’s why I give credit where it’s due for what they’ve done so far and I have a hope that they’ll be more open for more honest reviews in the future.

By the way, whether or not you agreed with that Daywind ad is irrelevant. They MADE UP a quote and stuck your name on it. Why weren’t you mad? This is precisely what you’re asking me, which is why I dredged it up. See my point, and I’ll see yours.